Zika virus RNA detection in blood donors in São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: The Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA genome virus, belonging to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Outbreaks around the world have demonstrated that the presence of asymptomatic viremic blood donors provides an increase in the risk of transfusion transmission (TT) and nucleic acid test (NAT) screening has been proposed to ensure the blood safety. This study implemented an "in-house" method to detect ZIKV RNA in blood sample donations.

Virome comparison of deferred blood donations obtained from different geographic regions in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil.

The virome composition of blood units deferred due to symptomatic disease of the donors reported after blood donation may reveal novel or unsuspected viral agents which may have impact in the area of hemotherapy. The objective of this study was to compare the virome of blood donations obtained from two distantly located blood collecting institutions in the Saqo Paulo State and deferred from use due to post donation illness reports (PDIR). Plasma samples with PDIR due to different symptoms were collected in two cities of the Sao Paulo State (Sao Paulo city, 28 samples and Ribeirao Preto city, 11 samples).